{"id":126315,"date":"2026-01-21T12:32:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T12:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/126315\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T12:32:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T12:32:10","slug":"tallahassees-chain-of-parks-art-fest-sets-date-announces-artist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/126315\/","title":{"rendered":"Tallahassee’s Chain of Parks Art Fest sets date, announces artist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mark your calendars, spring is coming. Following a record-breaking 25th year, LeMoyne Arts announced on Jan. 15 its 26th Annual Chain of Parks Art Festival<\/a> will take place Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19.<\/p>\n

Recently ranked the #3 Fine Art Festival in the Nation (including #1 in Florida) by Sunshine Artist Magazine, this beloved Tallahassee tradition transforms the downtown “Chain of Parks” into a premier outdoor gallery under the city\u2019s majestic live oaks.<\/p>\n

The festival welcomes an average of 42,000 attendees over the weekend and generates an estimated $2.37 million in economic impact from tourism for Tallahassee\u2019s local economy.<\/p>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

In Downtown Tallahassee, thousands of people strolled through the 25th annual Chain of Parks Art Festival that featured street art, live entertainment and more on Saturday, April 26, 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Chain of Parks Art Festival has become a treasured tradition for Tallahassee,\u201d said former Chair, long-time Festival Steering Committee Member, Kelly Dozier. \u201cIts continued growth and national recognition are a testament to our community\u2019s passion for art and culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

2026 cover artwork and artist announced\"Curtis<\/p>\n

Curtis Whitwam is the 2026 artist and for the LeMoyne Arts Chain of Parks Art Festival.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s festival features the work of watercolorist Curtis Whitwam, whose \u201cHeart of the Universe\u201d will be featured. Born and raised in the uplands of Tampa Bay, Whitwam merges his formal education in earth science and art with a deep-seated connection to Florida\u2019s wild ecosystems.<\/p>\n

Whitwam\u2019s signature \u201cliquid light\u201d style captures the sacred rhythm of Florida\u2019s wildlife and has created a special piece to reflect Tallahassee\u2019s signature cypress trees, rivers, and springs. Whitwam\u2019s work has earned prestigious accolades from both the American and Florida Watercolor Societies.<\/p>\n

\"Curtis<\/p>\n

Curtis Whitwam’s “Heart of the Universe” will be featured at the 2026 Chain of Parks Art Festival in Tallahassee April 18-19.<\/p>\n

About the festival<\/p>\n

The festivities begin early with the \u201cGarden Guardians\u201d upcycled sculpture exhibit in LeMoyne\u2019s expanded new gardens from March 17 through April 17. The exhibit will then be transferred to the Festival for a special exhibit conclusion and silent auction.<\/p>\n

To kick off the long Festival weekend, a special ticketed event and presentation will feature nationally recognized painter Noah Verrier on Thursday, April 16, in partnership with FSU\u2019s Opening Nights.<\/p>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

In Downtown Tallahassee, thousands of people strolled through the 25th annual Chain of Parks Art Festival that featured street art, live entertainment and more on Saturday, April 26, 2025.<\/p>\n

Set under the majestic live oak trees of downtown Tallahassee\u2019s Bloxham, Lewis, and Randolph “Chain of Parks,\u201d this beloved, free, two-day event transforms the parks into a vibrant tapestry of creativity, community, and culture.<\/p>\n

Slated for April 18-19, the Festival will welcome thousands of visitors to view and purchase unique works of fine art from over 160 national juried artists, while enjoying a weekend filled with live 3-D street art, folk and heritage art, live local entertainment, musical processions, children\u2019s art activities, local cultural re-enactments, community connections, delicious local food, craft beer, and more.<\/p>\n

The weekend\u2019s programming offers an immersive experience that extends beyond fine art to showcase various exciting art forms.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, April 18, at 2:30 p.m., visitors can witness a whimsical theatrical procession of larger-than-life puppets and masks envisioned by renowned local artist Linda Hall, accompanied by musicians and community artists. This performative parade will wind through the parks, concluding with an interactive play in the Children\u2019s Park.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, April 19, the energy continues at 2:30 p.m. with a celebratory performance by the Rickards High School Marching Raider Band, showcasing the immense talent of local Leon County students.<\/p>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

In Downtown Tallahassee, thousands of people strolled through the 25th annual Chain of Parks Art Festival that featured street art, live entertainment and more on Saturday, April 26, 2025.<\/p>\n

Families and art lovers will find a variety of dedicated zones to explore throughout the weekend. The Children\u2019s Park, hosted by The Apalachee Center in partnership with Leon County Schools, offers free interactive art studios, educational tents focused on Tallahassee\u2019s local heritage, and live historical reenactments.<\/p>\n

The Chalk Art Oasis features a decorated space filled with interactive activities and four professional street artists creating 3-D anamorphic art on the pavement, underwritten by Visit Tallahassee and hosted by Ron Sachs and Gay Webster Sachs.<\/p>\n

The Festival also highlights community organizations and local sustainability efforts at the Community Corner. For those looking for a culinary experience, the event features a wide array of local food vendors alongside adult libations by Proof Brewing at the McKibbon Hospitality Bar.<\/p>\n

For more information about the Chain of Parks Art Festival, visit chainofparks.org.<\/a><\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee’s Chain of Parks Art Festival announces top ranking<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mark your calendars, spring is coming. Following a record-breaking 25th year, LeMoyne Arts announced on Jan. 15 its…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":126316,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[40869,14376,62577,28,232,234,233],"class_list":["post-126315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tallahassee","tag-art-and-culture","tag-art-festival","tag-curtis-whitwam","tag-florida","tag-tallahassee","tag-tallahassee-headlines","tag-tallahassee-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126315"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126315\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}